Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Australian mainstream media’s pro-nuclear bias

by Christina Macpherson 8 April 2010.  Yesterday’ s National Press Club Debate between Ziggy Spinowski, (pro-nuclear) and Bob Brown (anti-nuclear) was duly reported by Australia’s mainstream media.

And all these reports covered both points of view, both arguments.

BUT – look how the mainstream media chose to headline these.  You wouldn’t know that Bob Brown was even there, would you?

Ziggy Switkowski: we need nuclear power for climate – THE AUSTRALIAN

Nuclear power ‘won’t fuel arms race’ ABC Online The head of Australia’s nuclear science agency has rejected claims that nuclear power in Australia could lead to nuclear weapons in the region. (surprise, surprise!)

Nuclear technology safer than coal shipping: chief Sydney Morning Herald AN AUSTRALIAN nuclear power industry would bring little risk of an environmental disaster such as the potential oil spill on the Great Barrier Reef, Ziggy Switkowski says.

Nuclear shift ‘likely’ The Age Nuclear energy advocate Ziggy Switkowski says he expects the public mood to shift in favour of nuclear in the next three years.

April 8, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, media, uranium | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

France’s toxic radioactive mess in uranium-rich Niger

Nuclear colonialism  News24:  : AndreasSpath 2010-04-07 Fans of nuclear energy love France. They habitually depict the country which produces more than three quarters of its electricity using atomic power as the way forward to clean, cheap and low-carbon energy for all. In their enthusiasm they tend to ignore the less than glamorous aspects of the French nuclear industry. Continue reading

April 8, 2010 Posted by | 1 | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plane “upgrade to nuclear weapons” is part of Obama’s Nuclear Posture Review

Nuclear Upgrade for the Pentagon’s Gajillion-Dollar Fighter  Wired.com  Danger Room By Nathan Hodge   April 7, 2010 As part of a newly unveiled Nuclear Posture Review, the Pentagon has made public plans to make its all-purpose stealth fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Continue reading

April 8, 2010 Posted by | 1 | , , , | Leave a comment

Lack of support closes political party”Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy”

Pro-nuclear party runs out of energy, The Canberra Times, BY PHILIP DORLING0, 7 Apr, 2010 Australia’s only strongly pro-nuclear power political party has exited the electoral stage with a whimper rather than a bang.The Australian Electoral Commission yesterday announced that it had accepted an application for voluntary party deregistration by Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy Australia. Continue reading

April 7, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, politics, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Secret plan to permit higher levels of ionising radiation

“This critical debate is taking place entirely behind closed doors because this plan is ‘guidance’ and does not require public notice as a regulation would,”

(USA) Radiation Exposure Debate Rages Inside EPA Plan to Radically Hike Post-Accident Radiation in Food & Water Sparks Hot Dissent, YubaNet.com,  By: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)Washington, DC Apr. 5, 2010 – A plan awaiting approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would dramatically increase permissible radioactive releases in drinking water, Continue reading

April 7, 2010 Posted by | 1, water | , , , , | Leave a comment

Secrecy of China’s nuclear programs

U.S. says China nuclear programs lack transparency, NewsDaily:  by Phil Stewart and Paul Eckert, Editing by Alan Elsner 2010/04/06  WASHINGTON, Apr. 6, 2010 (Reuters) — Lack of transparency surrounding China’s nuclear programs raises questions about its strategic intentions, the United States said on Tuesday. Continue reading

April 7, 2010 Posted by | 1 | , , | Leave a comment

UK govt clamping down on unnecessary medical radiation

Radiation fears lead to curb on CT scans, Ministers stop short of banning whole body scans for the worried well  Sarah Boseley,   guardian.co.uk,   6 April 2010, A clampdown on clinics offering MOT health checks to the worried well – which can include whole body scans – was signalled by the government today, amid concerns over the exposure of healthy people to unnecessary radiation. Continue reading

April 7, 2010 Posted by | 1 | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia firm on no uranium sales to India

Australia not to supply uranium to India , Hindustan Times, Indo-Asian News Service Melbourne, April 06, 2010 Australia on Tuesday ruled out changing its policy and said it would not supply uranium to India, ……. Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean told reporters in Canberra: “There is no prospect for a change. Continue reading

April 7, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics international, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Helen Caldicott – the power of one activist

What Makes An Activist Tick? 6 Apr 2010 By Newmatilda.com Activist, medico, educator, broadcaster and writer Dr Helen Caldicott began her career as a physician in Adelaide. She is a passionate advocate of citizen action and has campaigned on nuclear and environmental issues around the world for the last 38 years. Continue reading

April 7, 2010 Posted by | people, uranium | , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: nuke waste dumping, nuke disarmament

Review. Australia: The week has been dominated by the Muckaty nuclear waste dump plan, which clearly has caused disruption in Northern territory aboriginal communities.

But should  decisions on nuclear waste dumping be made entirely the responsibility of local aborigines anyway?

Is this not a National problem for Australia?  And why is the mainstream media pretty much silent on this critical issue?

International: World awaits nuclear disarmament talks. America in continued chaos over their nuclear waste problem.  But at least they talk about it, while other countries keep mum on the  unsolved disaster of radioactive wastes.

April 6, 2010 Posted by | Christina reviews, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anti-nuclear Waste Dump Rally in Northern Territory, Then Legal Action Against Govt?

“But [they] have been asked by the traditional owners to act from them, so officially have been asked to act and stop the dump and to hold the Federal Government and Northern Land Council accountable for their actions.”

Hundreds rally to stop nuclear dump ABC Alice Springs – Australian Broadcasting Corporation April 5, 2010 Indigenous groups and environmentalists are continuing a push to stop a radioactive waste dump being built on Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory.More than 200 people gathered in Tennant Creek on the weekend to protest against the dump being built on the site north of the town. Continue reading

April 5, 2010 Posted by | Northern Territory, politics, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When it comes to Nuclear Disarmament, Obama’s hands pretty much tied

Obama’s dream of a nuke-free world will encounter the stiffest resistance at home—from the people who make and safeguard nuclear weapons.

Why Obama Can’t End Nukes, The Doomsday Dilemma This Spring, Barack Obama will push toward his goal of a nuclear-free world. But the stiffest resistance may be at home.By John Barry and Evan Thomas | NEWSWEEK Apr 3, 2010 “…..Ever since the dawn of the atomic age at Hiroshima in August 1945, American presidents have been trying to figure out how to climb off the nuclear treadmill…….. Continue reading

April 5, 2010 Posted by | 1 | , , , | Leave a comment

Call for Australia to get out of the nuclear cycle

The team at ICAN – International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons 5 April 2010
We Australians often like to think of ourselves as a peace-loving nation.
However, as long as we continue to supply uranium to nuclear weapon states around the world, the perception of Australia as being benign in global affairs is an illusion.
The threat of nuclear weapons is as real today as it has ever been – yet Australia is in danger of setting itself up as uranium supplier to the world. Continue reading

April 5, 2010 Posted by | General News, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christians blockade nuclear base at Easter

Communion shared at blockade of Faslane nuclear base  Ekklesia, 3 April 2010, Christians have shared communion while participating in a blockade of the Faslane nuclear weapons base in Scotland. The “symbolic blockade” today (3 April) forms part of a day of action across Europe, as campaigners from various countries call for the removal of nuclear arms from the entire continent. Continue reading

April 5, 2010 Posted by | 1 | , , , , | Leave a comment

Cherie Blair doing legal battle for aboriginal nuclear victims

Cherie Blair to help atomic test veterans  Mirror News UK By Susie Boniface 4/04/2010 Cherie Blair is helping atomic test veterans sue the Government in a multi-million-pound lawsuit.Three hundred Australian survivors – ex-military staff and civilians including 100 Aborigines -say radiation from British tests in Oz left them with a legacy of cancers, rare medical conditions and defects in their children.

The leading human rights lawyer’s husband Tony Blair insisted while PM they were not affected and blocked their claims.The Sunday Mirror has campaigned for justice for the veterans, widows and children who won the right to sue the Ministry of Defence last year.Aborigines’ campaigner Neil Gillespie said of Cherie: “She is as sharp as a Samurai sword.”

Cherie Blair to help atomic test veterans – mirror.co.uk

April 5, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment